An Overview Of Business Models

Posted by: Guest Contributor on 21 November, 2012Comments Off on An Overview Of Business Models

Knowing Where To Start

There are a number of conceptual business models that are used throughout the professional world in order to enable business to have direction and a clear set of achievable objectives. One of the most beneficial aspects of the ISO 27001 standard is that it is defined with an organisations business plan in mind. It is the intention of the standard to fit into an already decided set of principles and liberate a business in its information security procedures.

What Should A Business Model Encompass?

Businesses can thrive or fail on their business model and planning, so knowing what should be in your plan is critical in every sense. An effective business model should be aligned with the goals and objectives, both short and long term, of the organisation. To this end, every single individual element of planning or task should be undertaken with the business model firmly in mind.

ISO 27001 is in fact a great way to discipline a business model. The ISO 27001 standard calls for continuous evolution of information security and of high levels of governance. Applying similar principles to your business model will ensure your business remains operating at a healthy level and continues to be ahead of the competition. If the business model of an organisation does not work within the objective framework then it is more likely to prove to be unsuccessful.

Types Of Business Model

There are four main types of business model that are used throughout the world. Understanding which one fits best with your business could give you the key to profit and success. Understanding how an information security management system, such as ISO 27001, fits into these models in relation to your business, could also prove critical.

The most common in use today is the business model canvas. This is such a straightforward and productive method as it has many positive outcomes. At a glance, a potential investor can look at an overview of the business as a whole and decide whether or not they see investment potential in the organisation. On a larger scale, it enables consortiums to bring together ideas and formulate a plan in a simple manner.

This is by far the most well rounded business model and also allows for the most consideration of information security, as it allows many aspects of a business to be viewed at once.

Other popular ideas include the business reference model and the component business model, although both of these focus specifically on business areas rather than an overview, meaning ISO 27001 implementation may not be as simple to integrate into the business plan.

Robert Reeve works for Bough SEO, a London SEO agency that specializes in all forms of digital marketing.